Chapter 13 – Buried Treasure begins with an intense scene where Bulan confronts three relentless attackers. Though outnumbered and outmatched, he relies on instinct and brute force, managing to subdue one with raw strength. The effort leaves him badly drained, his vision fading as the weight of the fight pulls him into unconsciousness. In a moment of unforeseen salvation, Sing intervenes with his rifle, unknowingly saving Bulan by dispersing the remaining threats. When Bulan stirs from his state of collapse, the jungle feels eerily quiet, but something inside him has shifted. There’s more than survival at stake—there’s a growing sense that his purpose goes beyond simply staying alive. Reflecting on the attack, he begins to see himself not as an experiment but as a being with reason, feeling, and intention. His body may be wounded, but his resolve has never been stronger. He stands not as a mistake but as someone capable of choosing his own path.

Later, Bulan is joined by his companions, Numbers Three and Twelve, who have also endured similar tests of strength and loyalty. Bulan addresses them with respect, recognizing not just their physical similarities, but their shared journey of questioning what it means to be alive. Instead of viewing them as artificial creations, he speaks to their individuality, reinforcing the belief that the essence of humanity lies in one’s choices. Their bond is not forged in a lab but through struggle, pain, and the decisions they’ve made since gaining independence. When Twelve asks if they are merely shadows of real people, Bulan responds not with certainty, but with conviction—they are as real as the ones who fear them. This discussion marks a pivotal shift in their dynamic. No longer just survivors, they become seekers of meaning, eager to chart their own course. Their determination deepens, driven by purpose and the need for self-definition.

Meanwhile, von Horn maneuvers through the shadows of the island’s politics and dangers. His greed for the buried treasure pushes him into reckless decisions, using tribal alliances and deceit as tools for advancement. With Muda Saffir lurking and alliances unstable, von Horn’s manipulations grow increasingly desperate. He promises rewards he can’t guarantee and paints Bulan and his kind as monsters to distract from his own treachery. Still, he presses on, believing the treasure—whether gold or something more elusive—will finally elevate him above the legacy of a second-hand scientist. Yet, with every step into danger, his schemes inch closer to collapse. His ambition, once masked as pragmatism, now reveals itself as raw self-interest. While others seek identity and truth, he is lost in a quest for dominance.

Back in the jungle, Bulan makes the bold decision to continue the search for Virginia. Each footstep feels heavier than the last, but his mind is focused. He must find her—not just to save her, but to understand who he really is through the way she sees him. For Bulan, Virginia represents hope. Not because she can fix him, but because she may see him as a man before a mystery. The jungle, with its tangled vines and hidden threats, mirrors the confusion within his own mind. But as he walks forward, there’s clarity in his goal. He won’t run from his past. He’ll confront it, and in doing so, choose the future he wants.

The chapter closes with dual momentum. One path leads to discovery, the other to destruction. Bulan, through struggle, emerges more certain in his value and his mission. Von Horn, fueled by greed, slips further into moral decay. As jungle rains fall and paths blur, the contrast between these men sharpens. One seeks humanity. The other sacrifices it. This sets the tone for what lies ahead—where treasure is not just gold or riches, but truth, acceptance, and the courage to face oneself.